St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-17
TWO DISTINCT PARTIES.
They Figure ConspicuOusiy in Da-
kota Affairs Political.

For several years the people of Da-
kOta have been trying to make them
selves believe that they were in favor of
division and admission" They were
led to this effort by that ubiquitous i'll
dividual, the politician. This individ-
ual has continually directed their at
tentiOn to the inequalities of their terri
tofial condition as compared TO the ben
efits of statehood, and has continually
blandly informed them that the only
remedy for their political ills lay
i'll division and admission" This
political individual has had the whole
field to himself for these several years
without any active opposition, and has
grown into strong political party: so
strong that it has been able TO control
legislation and about all the conven-
tons and political movements through
out the territory. Besides numerous
SplurgeS on their own account, they
have raked in straight ''pick up OF
1000 out of the territorial treasury to
grease the wheels of the state Of South
Dakota. They have had their wire
pullers in every county, paid them now
and then with Legislative clerkships. but
Oftener with promises of hand in the
should come with its multiplicity of Off
cial positions. Every time the citizens
of that territory have congregated.
whether Tor agricultural, political or
Sunday school purposes, the diviSiOnist
has not failed to bob up serenely and
run in dark horse, ''ResOlved, That we
are in favor of DIVISION This party
has now many converts to its scheme
from the ranks of the people who are
anxious to have their chosen country
assumed the dignity and responsibilities
of statehood, and in turn extend to them
the consequent benefits and protection.
With their whole political schooling i'll
this direction engineered by this divis-
ion party it is no wonder that many
otherwise right-minded citizens have
declared in favor of ''diviSion and adj
mission"
On the other hand, there is another
radical in Dakota, more to be admired,
perhaps, than his opponent from the
fact that he has no personal interest 10
serve in the PRONUNCIATION of his ideas.
and naturally therefore he is fewer i'll
number. This party has never been a
worker: he has had no organization and
nothing to work for on his personal ac
count, aud he never has had a
kindle the patriotic spark that
lies smouldering within him. but
he has been loyal and has not attempted
to set up a revolution in opposition to
the territorial government. He has
borne the neglect of congress after con
gress, and has seen the administration
change to the Democracy with hope
that shows no signs of being realized.
So far he has asked but for one thing:
That the question of admission as Il
whole or division be submitted to vote.
This simple request has been den ed
him, Notwithstanding the great cry the
divisiOnists are now heralding 10 the
world. that 1.-The people have twice de-
clared against admission as whole"
Let us see. Leaving out the
small majority vote those OF
the southern part p0lled in
adopting their alleged state conStitu-
ton, LET me call your attention to some
points of the late election on the queS-
ton of division. While the bill for the
law which authorized the election was
before a committee which had it under
consideration, an amendment was
sought to be made by a citizen who was
present so as to have the ballots read
'sFor division and admission" and For
admission as whole" but the division
schemers would not have it that way;
it cut off one of their most useful CAM
paign arguments. and one which they
used effectually in the Southern part i'll
securing the barely visible majority re-
corded in favor of the measure: LET
every man who favOrS statehood vote
for DIVISION The bill was so wOrded
that the desire of the masses, statehood,
could not be shown; it was simply
vote for division or against division.
They have declared in favor of division.
it is true, but that this can be called
declaration against one state is false.
That is a question the people of Dakota
have never had an opportunity to vote
on. ELLEN DALE.
St. Paul, Dec. Ia. 1851.